The government will expedite economic development to improve the livelihoods of people in five southern border provinces, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said yesterday.
He was speaking as he led the other two cabinet ministers of the Democrat Party -- Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam, and Deputy Interior Minister Niphon Bunyamanee -- to gather local opinions on how to restore the economy in the southern region.
Mr Jurin said addressing the grassroots economy takes priority and urgent measures will be taken to solve problems affecting investment, tourism and border trade in the five southern border provinces of Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
The combined value of border trade in the five provinces was estimated at about 230 billion baht last year. But during the past five months, exports to Malaysia had declined, resulting in a trade deficit, Mr Jurin said, adding that exports of rubber products had also gone down.
Mr Thaworn said the Transport Ministry will develop land transport routes in the southern region to connect with Malaysia and Singapore, which will be in parallel with China's massive One Belt One Road infrastructure project to connect with Asean.
The ministry also plans to launch a third gateway in the southern region as part of a marine transport development to link China and Malaysia, he said, adding rail transport will also be developed to boost connectivity in all four regions of the country.
Regarding air transport development, plans are to expand the Narathiwat airport, Mr Thaworn said, adding that no new airports will be built over the next 10 years, but the focus will be on developing existing airports.
Mr Niphon said the development of the deep South will adhere to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's advice "understand, reach out, develop".
He said the law governing the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre gives local residents a participatory role in local development through decentralisation. Mr Niphon added that additional special economic zones will be set up in the deep South with projects to create jobs.
SBPAC director Rear Adm Somkiat Phonprayoon said that religious issues remain a key concern.